Issue with Thomastik Infelt Jazz Flats

[InstantEctobass]

A funny thing about LaBella's Low Tension Flexible flatwounds.. they used to make them in the following gauges : 042 056 070 100... let's compare to Thomastik gauges: 043 056 070 100. Apart the G string, same gauges... until they decided to make some changes: they replaced the 070 A string by a 075 one. I bet they could get a better balanced set with that modification.

 

[HaphAsSard]

until they decided to make some changes: they replaced the 070 A string by a 075 one. I bet they could get a better balanced set with that modification.

You would think that, except it is not the case as it happens:

The "tension" remains the same between the 70 and the 75. The core wire is the same.

Is this a fact confirmed by La Bella? (They have yet to respond to my email regarding this.)

That's what la bella told me this morning

Hi Michael, We finished measuring the tension and replied to your email and yes it is unchanged as Jason mentioned. Sorry for the 5 day delay but we had not finished measuring the tension. And indeed the core of the string does affect the tension so that is why the tension is unchanged.

We had to increase the size because a lot of players had to adjust the nut so they wouldn't get a buzz or rattle in the string. Now with the .075", players will not have that issue of replacing the nut.

So the .075 La Bella LTFF has the same tension as the older .07 but they increased the gauge to make it slightly stiffer (unless they only meant that the older, thinner one tended to wiggle inside a standardly-cut nut slot, which I guess could happen depending on the angle of the headstock, or lack thereof).

 

[Eikari]

TI jazz flats on the jazz bass for around 2 years. Havent felt the need to buy new strings since then. Go figure.

 

[InstantEctobass]

So LaBella was intelligent enough to understand that .070 was too thin of a string for most basses's nut.

Nonetheless, tonight I went to my first jam session with my P-Bass equiped with the Thomastik Jazz Flats. One of the guy who used my bass said he felt the strings were uneven, both in feel and sound output... Go figure? :/

 

[68Goldfish]

Alright....nevermind....

 

[Mike N]

i

I can’t wait.
I’m still, after thirty plus years of playing roundwounds, trying to wrap my mind around the fact that the TI’s sound better with age. Usually there’s a clock that’s counting down in my head every time I pick up my bass as to how much longer these strings are going to last (with the rounds that is). It’s quite liberating to be honest.

I wish you were closer to me, I'd let you play my P Bass with the 20 year old TI's so you could see/hear and feel what I experience with them.

 

[Mike N]

Nonetheless, tonight I went to my first jam session with my P-Bass equiped with the Thomastik Jazz Flats. One of the guy who used my bass said he felt the strings were uneven, both in feel and sound output... Go figure? :/

I'm somewhat of a tone junkie so I've brought a few different basses to rehearsal. The drummer commented that my TI strung P was the nicest sounding of the lot..... and you know anytime a drummer notices anything like that, it must be significant.

 

[InstantEctobass]

I'm somewhat of a tone junkie so I've brought a few different basses to rehearsal. The drummer commented that my TI strung P was the nicest sounding of the lot..... and you know anytime a drummer notices anything like that, it must be significant.

You lucky boi! Did not happen

 

[shoulderpet]

So LaBella was intelligent enough to understand that .070 was too thin of a string for most basses's nut.

Nonetheless, tonight I went to my first jam session with my P-Bass equiped with the Thomastik Jazz Flats. One of the guy who used my bass said he felt the strings were uneven, both in feel and sound output... Go figure? :/

But did it sound uneven when you were playing it?
Not trying to shift the blame just that he may be used to a different set of strings with different tension and feel. Most flats have an overall taut feel and stiff feeling D and G, the TI's are low tension and the D and G are not tense at all, he may have been hammering the strings without realising it.

 

[Yahboy]

So LaBella was intelligent enough to understand that .070 was too thin of a string for most basses's nut.

Nonetheless, tonight I went to my first jam session with my P-Bass equiped with the Thomastik Jazz Flats. One of the guy who used my bass said he felt the strings were uneven, both in feel and sound output... Go figure? :/

Once the bassist who long term using others Flatwound string in the market, could feel uneven with Ti flat and LTF4A at first touch, including me.
I have a set GHS 3025 on my pbass in past, I found the D and G stiffer than E and A even light gauge set. But for someone said the 3025 very well balance in tension and stiffness.
I put a new set of Labella 750C 50.65.85.105 on my fretless bass few days ago, I instantly feel stiffer on D string .

That's is pretty normal thing and experience for us. I always love to try different string . I though I am stop string trying after the Ti flat, but I still bought the GHS 3025, EB cobalt flat and labella 750C for experience, there are pro and con, and just find the one suit for me and my bass.

 

[68Goldfish]

To say TI’s are not your cup of tea is one thing. To continually ascert that thier ill designed and or faulty is quite another. It borders on the absurd frankly. There’s a zillion threads on TB discussing the construction of TI’s and their inherent unevenness when new. And yet, thousands of players , some the greatest players the world has ever seen, with umpteen years of experience have come to love these strings and regard then in the highest quality. To think that anyone could ascertain the true nature of these strings in a few weeks is ridiculous to say the least. I’m just over this thread.

 

[InstantEctobass]

You were all right guys. The TI Jazz Flats are amazing. They finally reached a level in which I truly love them. I was being unpatient. I moved them from my P-Bass with a very high action (to play motown/fusion) to a Jazz style bass (my Ammoon cheap one, see my post about it!!!) and this time around with a very low action. It's so amazing how old school it sounds; I LOVE IT.

But on the other end... I heard that the company who makes the strings, Thomastik... aren't doing well.

 

[Martin Beer]

But on the other end... I heard that the company who makes the strings, Thomastik... aren't doing well.

What have you heard? If anything happened to the company, that would be terrible news for double bassists, as their Spirocores have been the industry standard jazz double bass string for something like 50 years, and nothing else really does the same job...

 

[ale29]

TI flats are like a totally different animal when fresh. And that freshness can last for weeks/months.
To be completely honest, I don't get people reviewing flatwound strings in general when they are still new: you can draw some conclusions on the feeling of the string itself, but tonally? Nah.

These are fresh TI flats:


And this is the same set 6 months later (different settings on the bass as well, but you get the idea)

 

[shoulderpet]

You were all right guys. The TI Jazz Flats are amazing. They finally reached a level in which I truly love them. I was being unpatient. I moved them from my P-Bass with a very high action (to play motown/fusion) to a Jazz style bass (my Ammoon cheap one, see my post about it!!!) and this time around with a very low action. It's so amazing how old school it sounds; I LOVE IT.

But on the other end... I heard that the company who makes the strings, Thomastik... aren't doing well.

I hope this is not the case, I have tried most flatwounds and have always without exception gone back to TI's, they sound great, not scooped like chromes and some other flats and the low tension makes them very comfortable to play

 

[DavidEdenAria]

Where is the evidence of TI having financial issues? Myself, ive wondered what their sales numbers could actually be as i rarely see TI strings in my area the last 40+ years for electric guitar or bass.

Ive actually wanted to buy a used set for a while now.

 

[JimmyM]

Where is the evidence of TI having financial issues? Myself, ive wondered what their sales numbers could actually be as i rarely see TI strings in my area the last 40+ years for electric guitar or bass.

Ive actually wanted to buy a used set for a while now.

TI is huge for stringed orchestral instruments. Spirocores are the top brand of all for upright. Me, I use their Superflexibles.

 

[DavidEdenAria]

TI is huge for stringed orchestral instruments. Spirocores are the top brand of all for upright. Me, I use their Superflexibles.

Thanks, I am aware of that.... but there are other big string names in stringed orchestra.....cellos, violins its not unusual for each string to be a different brand and there are a lot more violins in orchestras than double basses, hence my question about TI having financial issues.

 

[JimmyM]

Thanks, I am aware of that.... but there are other big string names in stringed orchestra.....cellos, violins its not unusual for each string to be a different brand and there are a lot more violins in orchestras than double basses, hence my question about TI having financial issues.

Well they make violin strings, too

 

[David Jayne]

You would think that, except it is not the case as it happens:





So the .075 La Bella LTFF has the same tension as the older .07 but they increased the gauge to make it slightly stiffer (unless they only meant that the older, thinner one tended to wiggle inside a standardly-cut nut slot, which I guess could happen depending on the angle of the headstock, or lack thereof).

I'm having a hard time understanding how this is possible. They added metal somewhere. This increases mass. Which increases tension at pitch. Unless they used a different, less dense alloy the tension must rise.